Queens Condo Lawyer

Condominium Purchase and Sale Attorney Serving Queens, NY

Queens has experienced a significant expansion of condominium development, particularly in neighborhoods along the East River waterfront and near major transit hubs. Long Island City has become one of New York City's most active new condo markets, with luxury towers offering Manhattan skyline views at a lower price point than Manhattan itself. Astoria, Flushing, Forest Hills, Woodside, and Sunnyside have also seen new condo construction and conversions that have reshaped the borough's housing landscape.

A Queens condominium purchase gives you fee simple ownership of your unit, recorded by deed and backed by title insurance, along with a proportional share of the building's common areas. This form of ownership provides flexibility that co-ops do not, including easier financing, no board approval requirement, and fewer subletting restrictions. However, condo purchases involve their own legal considerations, including offering plan review, title examination, closing cost analysis, and assessment of the condominium association's financial health.

At Agarunov Law Firm, P.C., our real estate practice includes condominium transactions throughout Queens County. Our office at 30 Broad Street in Manhattan's Financial District is accessible from Queens via the E, F, M, R, or 7 trains. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your Queens condominium transaction.

Our Queens Condominium Legal Services

Contract Review and Negotiation

Queens condo contracts require careful legal review. For resale units, we negotiate the standard purchase contract to protect deposit terms, contingencies, closing timeline, and buyer protections. For new construction purchases from sponsors, the contract is heavily weighted in the developer's favor, and our role is to identify and negotiate modifications to provisions that create unnecessary risk for the buyer.

Offering Plan Review

Every Queens condo building has an offering plan that governs its operations, finances, and governance. We analyze the plan's common charge structure, tax abatement status and expiration timeline, reserve fund adequacy, sponsor's retained units and control period, insurance coverage, and any pending assessments or litigation. Long Island City and Astoria condos in particular often have 421-a tax abatements that reduce property taxes for a set period but result in significant tax increases upon expiration.

New Development Purchases in Queens

Long Island City has become one of New York City's most active new condo markets, and new developments continue to rise in Astoria, Flushing, and other Queens neighborhoods. Purchasing from a sponsor involves reviewing the offering plan for developer protections, negotiating contract terms, verifying construction completion status, and confirming certificate of occupancy. We protect Queens condo buyers from common new development pitfalls including delayed closings, punch-list deficiencies, and discrepancies between marketing materials and actual unit specifications.

Title Search and Insurance

Condo purchases involve real property transfer, making title examination essential. We coordinate the title search, review for liens, judgments, and encumbrances, resolve issues, and ensure appropriate title insurance coverage. Queens properties, particularly those on converted industrial or commercial land, may have environmental or zoning considerations that require additional due diligence.

Closing Cost Analysis and Representation

Queens condo buyers should budget for mortgage recording tax, title insurance, mansion tax (on purchases over $1 million, increasingly common in Long Island City), attorney fees, and building charges. For new developments, some sponsors pass a portion of their transfer tax obligation to the buyer, further increasing closing costs. We prepare detailed estimates early in the process and represent you at the closing table.

What You Should Know About Queens Condos

Queens condo development has concentrated in areas with strong transit access. Long Island City's proximity to Manhattan via the 7, E, M, and G trains has driven rapid condo construction, with buildings ranging from boutique conversions to large luxury towers. Astoria offers a mix of new construction and converted buildings with more moderate pricing. Flushing's condo market serves a buyer pool that is largely drawn from the neighborhood's established Asian-American community, with developments tailored to those preferences.

Tax abatements play a significant role in Queens condo purchases, especially in newer buildings. Many Long Island City and Astoria condos have 421-a or similar abatements that significantly reduce property taxes during the abatement period. When the abatement expires, taxes can increase by several thousand dollars per year. Understanding the abatement timeline and its financial impact is critical to evaluating the true cost of ownership.

Queens condos generally do not require board approval, which makes the purchase process faster and more predictable than co-op purchases. The condo board has only a right of first refusal, which is rarely exercised. However, thorough legal due diligence on the offering plan, title, and building finances is still essential to protect your investment.

Why Queens Condo Buyers and Sellers Choose Agarunov Law Firm

• Queens Condo Market Knowledge: Transactions in Long Island City, Astoria, Flushing, Forest Hills, and throughout the borough
• Offering Plan Expertise: Thorough analysis of offering plans, tax abatements, and sponsor obligations
• Direct Attorney Access: Your attorney handles your transaction from contract to closing
• Transit Accessible: Our Financial District office is reachable via the E, F, M, R, or 7 trains from Queens
• NY and NJ Licensed: Dual-state licensing for clients with cross-border interests